French billiards

The French billiards , also called billiards carambola , or billiards with 3 balls, or carom , is a play of address which is practiced in general with one or two players.

Material

Table

A billiard table is in general made up of a plate of Ardoise (in one, two or three parts) of several millimetres thickness (20, 30,40,50,60 mm) covered with a tended cloth (generally green or blue, colors resting for the eyes) and with a framework out of rectangular wooden on which are assembled bands (generally out of rubber) covered with the same cloth.
French billiards can exist in several dimensions (lengths, length and width for the two greater models):

2,10 m;
2,20 m;
2,30 m;
2,40 m;
2,60 m;
2,80 m X 1,5275 m (size “semi match”);
3,10 m X 1,6775 m (size of competition “match”)

Moreover, the wood used for the manufacture of billiards varies according to desired quality: Kotibé (family Mahogany tree) for an optimal quality, Oak or To drown for a a little lower quality.

Contrary to the other varieties of billiards, French billiards does not present holes in the table or the bands.
In addition, it can be equipped with a system of resistances (“heating”) placed under the slate plate and intended to ensure a better “bearing”.
The slate as well as the bands are covered with a tended cloth, generally of green color (more resting for the eyes) or blue (more telegenic) but there also exists of other colors (in particular red).

Balls

Three balls identical diameters (61,5 mm), in general two white and a red.
the two white balls are differentiated, is by a mark on one of them (generally two small diametrically opposed circles or two points, from where its “pointed” denomination), that is to say by a different color (slightly yellower). These balls are generally out of resin.
The red ball is called carambola.

Tail

A “tail” by player. It is about a kind of stick out of wooden (sometimes of other materials) right, slightly conical.
The tail can be of only one holding or in two parts that one screws one with the other:

the barrel : part the broadest behavior by the hand postpones of the player;
the arrow : the finest part at the end of which is stuck a “proceeded” leather disc called which returns in contact with the ball, even fixed to him at the arrow by a " virole" (plastic or metal generally);
the chalk or blue : product which one owes with English John Carr, having for goal to return the ball more clutching to the process.

The barrel is sometimes hollow so as to be able to be ballasted with lead to adjust the weight of the tail to the suitability of the player.

In order to prevent that the process does not skid on the ball at the time of the impact (called " distort queue"), the player can coat the chalk process.

To rub the balls with a rag soaked with silicone (for flies of fishing) gives them a great promptness.

Goal of the play

Each player has a distance to cover, that is to say a number of points to make to gain the part. The distance is function of the level, thus it is not forcing the same one in face to face. A part can also dispute in a definite number of recoveries (term indicating a turn of play).

Each player sees himself allotting a ball. While pushing it with its tail, it must manage to make it come into contact with the two others. Each time this condition is met, the player marks a point and can continue to play (unless a irregularity is made). When it fails, its adversary takes the hand.

Beginning of the play

In order to determine the player who will start the part, the two adversaries play simultaneously their ball, placed at height of the starting flies and must strike the small opposite band and as much as possible approach the band located behind the starting position. The player nearest to the band chooses: either it starts, or it decides to let its adversary play the first blow.

The balls are then placed on the sites marked on the carpet (called flies ). According to the preference of the player who begins, his ball can be placed on the fly of right-hand side or left. The ball of its adversary (pointed) is always on the central fly. The red ball takes seat on the central fly with the other end of billiards.

Alternatives

The free part

Each player must reach a number of points corresponding to his handicap. The first to be reached that point gains. If it is about the player who began the part, the balls are given “on flies” and the right to try to supplement the points it has missing its adversary in a recovery.

Limits of the free part

Since the discovery of the American series which make it possible almost ad infinitum to reproduce the same point by keeping the balls along the band, the free part has atteind its limits, the Great champions of billiards being all able to give 400 a progress report on fly. Were needed the empècher to play American; the play of framework was invented.

The band

The ball of the player must rebound on at least a tape before touching the last ball so that the point is validated (or touch at least a band before caramboler two other balls).

3 bands

The ball of the player must rebound on at least three tapes before touching the last ball so that the point is validated (or touch at least three bands before caramboler two other balls).

The framework

There are three alternatives: the executives 47/1, 47/2 and framework 71/2. The principle is that one traces a line with 47 cm (or 71) of each band what makes nine frameworks (or six). The player can make to the maximum two points (to the 47/2 and 71/2) and only one (to the 47/1) without leaving at least one the two balls, which are not that of the player, of the framework in which they are. When the two unfavourable balls enter one of the executives, they are " entrées" , with the following blow if they did not leave, they are " dedans" and the player must imperatively leave if not the hand passes.

The casin (or the ravachole)

Each player must carry out compulsory figures (which it must announce before playing):

arranges; or band-before: the ball of the player touches the band before the two other balls
casin (or ravachole): the ball of the player touches it red which has its turn touches the third but while having touched at least a band as a preliminary;
a band;
two bands;
red: the point is played by touching it initially red;
direct: the ball of the player touches the first then the second ball without making of band;
free: the player plays the point like it desired;

One will add to it sometimes:

three bands (or more);
: direct blow with deviation of the first ball of more than 90°;
against: or meets: blow marked thanks to a shock of the second ball on the first or the third before the shock of those.
left hand: played free blow of the hand which is not the natural hand of the player.

He is interdict to twice play the same figure of continuation.

The first which carried out each figure a preset number of times in advance (generally from 2 to 5) gained. A faster and strategic alternative imposes the full number of attempts per figure. Once reached, this figure cannot be tried any more, another figure will have to be selected (and its number of possible attempts décrémenté). The calculation of the points is made in a share box of the table of score. The end of part is fixed by the first which exhausted all its attempts.

In the two alternatives one will be able to tolerate that a not successful figure but being worth a partly free point authorizes however with rejouer.

4 balls

As its name indicates it, this play is played with 4 balls (an additional red or blue for example). Each player sees himself allotting a number of point to be reached according to an identical calculation for each player (for example the number of points played to free multiplied by three). If the principle is identical to the free one, the way of counting the points is different.

to touch white and a red = 1 point (as with free)
to touch two reds = 2 points
to touch the three other balls = 20 points
each band front multiplies the value of the point by two (for example: to touch the 2 reds after a band before = 4 points)

The player must reach exactly the number of allotted point. So during a series, it exceeds this objective, the series finishes and counts for zero. (For example: there remain 15 points to be made and the player touches the 3 other balls (20 points). He does not mark any point and it is to the player following to play). Its points thus should be counted attentively.

5 skittles

Little practiced in France, this play is popular in other countries, like Italy. It is known as besides Al italiano .

Like any alternative of French billiards, the players have a distance to traverse to gain the part.

Five skittles of 25 mm in height, a red and four white, are placed on the table at determined places, the unit forming a cross called castle.

The player plays only one blow then passes the hand to his adversary.

Points of skittle:

central Skittle: 4 points;
side Skittle: 2 points;
central Skittle only: 8 points.

Points of pile-up:

the ball of play on the unfavourable ball then on the red: 4 points;
Carambola of the type casin : 3 points.

The number of points allotted by blow is the addition of the figures carried out.

A fault is sanctioned by attribution with the adversary of 2 points of fault + the points of skittles and/or red ball possibly carried out on this blow. In addition to this penalty, the adversary profits from a " ball libre".

In France, a part is played in 3 gaining sets of 50 pts. (60 for Masters).

Artistic billiards

Artistic billiards is practiced on a table of 3,10 m by players having already a good knowledge of billiards. This discipline consists in for the player carrying out a compulsory figure under three tests. The quality of execution of this figure is noted and the referees allot a number of points according to a fascinating coefficient of account the degree of difficulty (from 5 to 10 points).
Although this discipline a long time required the use of balls in Ivoire instead of the Aramith usually of use for French billiards, it is from now on the phenolic resin which is of rigor. The choice of these materials is explained by their properties which make it possible to limit friction with the carpet and thus to print with the balls of more marked effects. The adoption of this new matter allowed besides the extension of the repertory of figures, often spectacular, from 68 to 100.

Organization of the federations

Champions of billiards

Internal bonds

Championship of the world of 3 bands
world Union of billiards
European Confederation of Belgian billiards
Royal Federation of Billiards

external Bonds

French federation of Belgian Billiards
Royal Federation of Billiards
European Confederation of Billiards
World Union of Billiards
World Confederation off Billiard Sports
Official site of Pierre Soumagne

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